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The Forever and The Now
Bron McIntyre, forty-two, has it all together. Terrific job. Loving family. No desperate need for a girlfriend but would be interested if one came along. Bron McIntyre is Teflon.
Kate Agostino, forty-eight, is not Teflon. Yes, she has a terrific job. But a loving family? Not really. And her personal life is rapidly disintegrating and turning into dust.
When her orange smoothie explodes all over her business suit while she’s on her afternoon walk, Kate simply shakes her head in resignation.
Bron, having witnessed the smoothie eruption, races to help, and suddenly her life takes an unexpected turn.
Falling in love is like watching the grandest sunset on the calmest ocean where the tiniest ripples wear silver sparkles as their hats. Kate and Bron find that sunset on that ocean with those ripples of love, but what happens when you take that love for granted? What happens when your person disappears? The answers are hard to hear and Bron chooses not to listen.
After a relationship break, a family intervention, and conversations that rip apart seams, Bron and Kate eventually find themselves, each other, and their now. And what they discover is that love is the large and the deliberate, and the simple and the small.
So when tragedy strikes, they call on its strength because, when you think about it, love can live on in the forever, particularly if it lives courageously in the now.
A beautifully poignant story about life, love and a loss so tragic that sometimes even the grandest sunset on the calmest ocean with the ripples wearing hats is too heartbreaking to bear.
Kate Agostino, forty-eight, is not Teflon. Yes, she has a terrific job. But a loving family? Not really. And her personal life is rapidly disintegrating and turning into dust.
When her orange smoothie explodes all over her business suit while she’s on her afternoon walk, Kate simply shakes her head in resignation.
Bron, having witnessed the smoothie eruption, races to help, and suddenly her life takes an unexpected turn.
Falling in love is like watching the grandest sunset on the calmest ocean where the tiniest ripples wear silver sparkles as their hats. Kate and Bron find that sunset on that ocean with those ripples of love, but what happens when you take that love for granted? What happens when your person disappears? The answers are hard to hear and Bron chooses not to listen.
After a relationship break, a family intervention, and conversations that rip apart seams, Bron and Kate eventually find themselves, each other, and their now. And what they discover is that love is the large and the deliberate, and the simple and the small.
So when tragedy strikes, they call on its strength because, when you think about it, love can live on in the forever, particularly if it lives courageously in the now.
A beautifully poignant story about life, love and a loss so tragic that sometimes even the grandest sunset on the calmest ocean with the ripples wearing hats is too heartbreaking to bear.
264 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2022
75 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
K.J .
12 books412 followersBest-selling author KJ lives in Bendigo, Australia with her wife, their son, three cats and a dog. She started writing interesting observations of life, literary articles, poetry, creative non-fiction, and personal essays, and eventually they were all sort of smooshed together in a giant author-y blender and out popped a book. Then another. The blender is currently in use for KJ’s next novel. Her books are best-sellers, with all either finalists or winners in the Goldie Awards, IHeartSapphic, eLit Awards and LesFic Bard awards. KJ also writes novels under her other pen name: K.J. Wrights
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
February 8, 2022
5+++ stars
I read this book days ago and have been struggling to write a review that is worthy of it.
Because KJ the booklover doesn't just write reviews for books SHE loves, she writes "essay thingies" as she calls them. They are works of art. I wanted to do the same for her because this is so deserving of that. So I've been working on drafts and was never quite happy with them. I finally just decided to speak from the heart.
This was one of the most beautifully written, insightful, moving stories I’ve ever read. Five stars isn't nearly enough. I was completely immersed in every moment of Bron and Kate's relationship. It's one of those "everything-you've-always-wanted-a-love-story-to-be" beginnings. From their first sweet encounter through the very slow build of their relationship, it's truly sublime.
Bron reminded me of Samantha Markson from KJ's Coming Home. No - she's not a retread, she's just so damn likable and has a fabulous sense of humor, much like the author herself. Kate is also a wonderfully constructed character. She's already in the process of a major life change when she meets Bron, and that goes into overdrive once she discovers she has feelings for another woman. KJ doesn't rush their story along and I absolutely loved that. What a breath of fresh air that she allowed Kate enough time to believably progress through such a significant journey.
The story never loses its greatness, even when real, relatable challenges arise. The Forever and The Now says profound things about relationships. About taking things for granted. About the necessity of nurturing every type of relationship in your life because nothing survives without it - even the love of a lifetime. About being present and paying attention. It's an ode to love.
This is not the kind of story that you can just consume, easily put away and casually move on to the next. It seeps into your soul. It provides food for thought. And yes - it leaves your heart feeling both full and heavy, with such a sense of gratefulness for having experienced it.
To me, the measure of greatness of a work is that it affects you profoundly. This is the rare book that I easily envision pulling from my shelves periodically, if only to clutch it to my chest. It's just that extraordinary.
KJ said her goal with The Forever and the Now was to write about love "beautifully." Mission accomplished, KJ. Mission. Accomplished.
I read this book days ago and have been struggling to write a review that is worthy of it.
Because KJ the booklover doesn't just write reviews for books SHE loves, she writes "essay thingies" as she calls them. They are works of art. I wanted to do the same for her because this is so deserving of that. So I've been working on drafts and was never quite happy with them. I finally just decided to speak from the heart.
This was one of the most beautifully written, insightful, moving stories I’ve ever read. Five stars isn't nearly enough. I was completely immersed in every moment of Bron and Kate's relationship. It's one of those "everything-you've-always-wanted-a-love-story-to-be" beginnings. From their first sweet encounter through the very slow build of their relationship, it's truly sublime.
Bron reminded me of Samantha Markson from KJ's Coming Home. No - she's not a retread, she's just so damn likable and has a fabulous sense of humor, much like the author herself. Kate is also a wonderfully constructed character. She's already in the process of a major life change when she meets Bron, and that goes into overdrive once she discovers she has feelings for another woman. KJ doesn't rush their story along and I absolutely loved that. What a breath of fresh air that she allowed Kate enough time to believably progress through such a significant journey.
The story never loses its greatness, even when real, relatable challenges arise. The Forever and The Now says profound things about relationships. About taking things for granted. About the necessity of nurturing every type of relationship in your life because nothing survives without it - even the love of a lifetime. About being present and paying attention. It's an ode to love.
This is not the kind of story that you can just consume, easily put away and casually move on to the next. It seeps into your soul. It provides food for thought. And yes - it leaves your heart feeling both full and heavy, with such a sense of gratefulness for having experienced it.
To me, the measure of greatness of a work is that it affects you profoundly. This is the rare book that I easily envision pulling from my shelves periodically, if only to clutch it to my chest. It's just that extraordinary.
KJ said her goal with The Forever and the Now was to write about love "beautifully." Mission accomplished, KJ. Mission. Accomplished.
February 20, 2022
Oh my heart... 😔🥺
☺️😂😍🥰🤬🥰😍😂😍🥰🥺😭
My feelings in emojis while reading this beautiful book ‘cause I’m useless articulating how I feel/think about things that are so effing amazing.
K.J, you're a bloody ledge! 👌🏽
☺️😂😍🥰🤬🥰😍😂😍🥰🥺😭
My feelings in emojis while reading this beautiful book ‘cause I’m useless articulating how I feel/think about things that are so effing amazing.
K.J, you're a bloody ledge! 👌🏽
February 10, 2022
5 ⭐️
KJ tells stories about life with all the ups and downs that reality offers us. Sometimes life is not easy and isn’t particularly fair. That’s when we ask ourselves, why me? There are many tragedies happening all the time, but when it hits you and your loved ones, it’s a whole other story, and the world around you collapses. The Forever and The Now is such a story, it makes us laugh and cry. It is the wonderful love story of Bron and Kate, but also one that breaks our hearts.
Told from Bron’s point of view, we primarily follow her on her journey to great happiness with Kate. From Bron’s perspective, we get to know Kate well too. They have a few hurdles to overcome but even a storm doesn’t let them fall overboard. At some point, they have to fight for their love and for themselves, and they know what they can win if they don’t give up – nothing less than their forever and also their now.
Bron (42) has had it relatively easy in life so far. She has a wonderful, helpful, and loving family, and a job she loves. She is out and proud and never faced a problem with it. She’s just not sure if her big love in life really exists – until a smoothie explosion changes her life. When she runs to the aid of Kate (48), who gets a smoothie shower thanks to a careless mad man, she immediately senses that she has met someone special. Kate may be a successful businesswoman, but her personal life is currently in a downward spiral. The meeting with Bron, on the other hand, is a real highlight, despite smoothie-soaked clothes. They build a friendship, in which feelings develop after a certain time, but which go far beyond that, and when they decide to follow their hearts, they learn what it means to have found their partner for life.
We all know that this story will not have a happy ending, but despite the tragedy, it is a very beautiful one. A story that can strike any of us and that will leave none of us cold. We laugh with Bron and Kate, we suffer with them, we rejoice and we cry. In other words, KJ makes us feel.
The characters are very well developed. I liked both MCs from the beginning. Bron, the occasionally somewhat clueless and sometimes endearingly awkward art teacher, with a sense of humor and propensity to swear. Bron’s family is a jewel, they are supportive and fun, everybody with such a family can consider themselves lucky. Kate, on the other hand, has no idea what it means to have a loving family, only what is expected of her. An ex-husband who turns out to be an idiot doesn’t help either. So she sticks to her job, where the praise is great, even if the relationships with work colleagues are only superficial. Despite everything, she never loses her sense of humor.
I hope that many of you will read this book but I suggest that you find yourself in a good emotional place, otherwise, it may be a bit too much. But it is definitely worth it. Just make sure you have enough tissues ready, you will need them. My heart broke for Bron and Kate. I am one lucky woman, to be with the love of my life for over 20 years, and I hope we have many more years together.
The bottom line of the story for me is, when you have found your person, enjoy and cherish every moment, be mindful and take nothing for granted.
Thank you, KJ for this great and emotional story.
ARC provided by the author to LezReviewBooks.com in exchange for an honest review
KJ tells stories about life with all the ups and downs that reality offers us. Sometimes life is not easy and isn’t particularly fair. That’s when we ask ourselves, why me? There are many tragedies happening all the time, but when it hits you and your loved ones, it’s a whole other story, and the world around you collapses. The Forever and The Now is such a story, it makes us laugh and cry. It is the wonderful love story of Bron and Kate, but also one that breaks our hearts.
Told from Bron’s point of view, we primarily follow her on her journey to great happiness with Kate. From Bron’s perspective, we get to know Kate well too. They have a few hurdles to overcome but even a storm doesn’t let them fall overboard. At some point, they have to fight for their love and for themselves, and they know what they can win if they don’t give up – nothing less than their forever and also their now.
Bron (42) has had it relatively easy in life so far. She has a wonderful, helpful, and loving family, and a job she loves. She is out and proud and never faced a problem with it. She’s just not sure if her big love in life really exists – until a smoothie explosion changes her life. When she runs to the aid of Kate (48), who gets a smoothie shower thanks to a careless mad man, she immediately senses that she has met someone special. Kate may be a successful businesswoman, but her personal life is currently in a downward spiral. The meeting with Bron, on the other hand, is a real highlight, despite smoothie-soaked clothes. They build a friendship, in which feelings develop after a certain time, but which go far beyond that, and when they decide to follow their hearts, they learn what it means to have found their partner for life.
We all know that this story will not have a happy ending, but despite the tragedy, it is a very beautiful one. A story that can strike any of us and that will leave none of us cold. We laugh with Bron and Kate, we suffer with them, we rejoice and we cry. In other words, KJ makes us feel.
The characters are very well developed. I liked both MCs from the beginning. Bron, the occasionally somewhat clueless and sometimes endearingly awkward art teacher, with a sense of humor and propensity to swear. Bron’s family is a jewel, they are supportive and fun, everybody with such a family can consider themselves lucky. Kate, on the other hand, has no idea what it means to have a loving family, only what is expected of her. An ex-husband who turns out to be an idiot doesn’t help either. So she sticks to her job, where the praise is great, even if the relationships with work colleagues are only superficial. Despite everything, she never loses her sense of humor.
I hope that many of you will read this book but I suggest that you find yourself in a good emotional place, otherwise, it may be a bit too much. But it is definitely worth it. Just make sure you have enough tissues ready, you will need them. My heart broke for Bron and Kate. I am one lucky woman, to be with the love of my life for over 20 years, and I hope we have many more years together.
The bottom line of the story for me is, when you have found your person, enjoy and cherish every moment, be mindful and take nothing for granted.
Thank you, KJ for this great and emotional story.
ARC provided by the author to LezReviewBooks.com in exchange for an honest review
February 4, 2022
For me this was is one of the most difficult reviews I have ever written. And I’m not saying that because the book was bad in any way. It’s totally the opposite. I don‘t think I have ever read a book that got to me so much. After finishing it I felt so raw. I don't wanna give too much away. I mean it's clear that this book has no HEA, it's not a typical romance story, it's different than any other book I have ever read. But omg again this one got to me so much.
When you read a book by KJ one thing you definitely get is a beautifully written book with characters you will fall in love with. And that's exactly what happened to me. Bron is totally adorable, she is also sometimes clueless which has a lot to do with her life being mostly easy so far. So she never had any heartbreaking events. She also has the most wonderful family that supported her all the time. But most of all she has her heart in the right place.
Kate on the other hand was never so lucky with her family and also not with her marriage. The only thing that works for her is her job. But no matter what she is such a wonderful and kind human being with a great humour. And even if we only get Bron‘s POV (in first person) I never felt like I know Kate any less which shows me what an amazing writer KJ is.
Together they are just perfect. They definitely have their difficulties and even take each other for granted at some point. But the more the story goes on, the more they grow (each on their own but most of all together). Their journey contained so many beautiful and heartfelt scenes. They are each other's person, their forever and their now. The person you only meet once in your life.
I really don't wanna reveal more about what exactly happens. What I learned while I was reading this book is that if you have found your person, don't ever take them for granted. Be grateful for every moment you can spend with your person. What I also did while I was reading this book is hugging my wife more than I usually do. Because you never know what happens next.
What I can also say is that this book definitely made me cry hard and I had a blurry vision sometimes while I was reading. For example there is one scene where Bron is hurt because of a gift she got from Kate. Without Bron saying anything to Kate about it, Kate explains in the most beautiful and heartbreaking way why this gift was different. Everyone who reads this book, will know which scene I mean. For me this is my favourite scene in the whole book. It symbolises the beauty and depth of this book and the characters. On the other hand I also laughed so often. There are so many funny scenes that cracked me up. It's where you get KJ's fantastic humour.
I also wanna say something about Bron's family. For me this is the family I ever wanted. Her mum, her sisters, nephew and niece. I fell in love with every single one of them. My favourite two definitely were Bron's sister Siobhan and her niece JJ. They had so many several special moments that I loved.
Last but not least I wanna say something to every reader that is like me and usually only reads the HEA romance novels. If you're in a place you can't deal with heartbreak this isn't the book for you. But if you’re ok with that, maybe would like to leave your comfort zone or if you're a huge KJ fan like me, then I hope you will give this story a chance. This story deserves to be read. It's real life story you don’t often get to read. I know there is KJ's full heart in it. You just feel it on every page.
When I arrived at the end of this book, I felt lost. I felt like I was being a part of them and didn’t want to let go. But I know it’s not how it works. Everything ends because this is life. It’s why we need to make the best of the now.
Thank you KJ for sharing this beautiful story and for making me see more clear again (even if my visual seeing sometimes was blurry… 😉).
When you read a book by KJ one thing you definitely get is a beautifully written book with characters you will fall in love with. And that's exactly what happened to me. Bron is totally adorable, she is also sometimes clueless which has a lot to do with her life being mostly easy so far. So she never had any heartbreaking events. She also has the most wonderful family that supported her all the time. But most of all she has her heart in the right place.
Kate on the other hand was never so lucky with her family and also not with her marriage. The only thing that works for her is her job. But no matter what she is such a wonderful and kind human being with a great humour. And even if we only get Bron‘s POV (in first person) I never felt like I know Kate any less which shows me what an amazing writer KJ is.
Together they are just perfect. They definitely have their difficulties and even take each other for granted at some point. But the more the story goes on, the more they grow (each on their own but most of all together). Their journey contained so many beautiful and heartfelt scenes. They are each other's person, their forever and their now. The person you only meet once in your life.
I really don't wanna reveal more about what exactly happens. What I learned while I was reading this book is that if you have found your person, don't ever take them for granted. Be grateful for every moment you can spend with your person. What I also did while I was reading this book is hugging my wife more than I usually do. Because you never know what happens next.
What I can also say is that this book definitely made me cry hard and I had a blurry vision sometimes while I was reading. For example there is one scene where Bron is hurt because of a gift she got from Kate. Without Bron saying anything to Kate about it, Kate explains in the most beautiful and heartbreaking way why this gift was different. Everyone who reads this book, will know which scene I mean. For me this is my favourite scene in the whole book. It symbolises the beauty and depth of this book and the characters. On the other hand I also laughed so often. There are so many funny scenes that cracked me up. It's where you get KJ's fantastic humour.
I also wanna say something about Bron's family. For me this is the family I ever wanted. Her mum, her sisters, nephew and niece. I fell in love with every single one of them. My favourite two definitely were Bron's sister Siobhan and her niece JJ. They had so many several special moments that I loved.
Last but not least I wanna say something to every reader that is like me and usually only reads the HEA romance novels. If you're in a place you can't deal with heartbreak this isn't the book for you. But if you’re ok with that, maybe would like to leave your comfort zone or if you're a huge KJ fan like me, then I hope you will give this story a chance. This story deserves to be read. It's real life story you don’t often get to read. I know there is KJ's full heart in it. You just feel it on every page.
When I arrived at the end of this book, I felt lost. I felt like I was being a part of them and didn’t want to let go. But I know it’s not how it works. Everything ends because this is life. It’s why we need to make the best of the now.
Thank you KJ for sharing this beautiful story and for making me see more clear again (even if my visual seeing sometimes was blurry… 😉).
March 21, 2022
5 Star - holy hell - Kindle Unlimited
Save this one for when you are ready for an excellent read, with characters you will absolutely fall in love with and you are looking to put your heart through the emotional wringer.
Books have made me cry before. Lot of times I have teared up and needed a tissue. This book is the first one to make me ugly cry, like I was sobbing. Loudly.
But don't let that discourage you from reading this book because you'd be denying yourself the incredible journey of the story and the love and the laughter and, yes, the heartbreak.
Sometimes I am in the mood to read a book that is going to really punch me in the feels. This book delievered. It was so so good.
Save this one for when you are ready for an excellent read, with characters you will absolutely fall in love with and you are looking to put your heart through the emotional wringer.
Books have made me cry before. Lot of times I have teared up and needed a tissue. This book is the first one to make me ugly cry, like I was sobbing. Loudly.
But don't let that discourage you from reading this book because you'd be denying yourself the incredible journey of the story and the love and the laughter and, yes, the heartbreak.
Sometimes I am in the mood to read a book that is going to really punch me in the feels. This book delievered. It was so so good.
April 12, 2023
Oh my god what did I just read ! Wow ! Wow!
June 27, 2022
As someone said at the end of the book: Fucking fucking fuckity fuck! Exactly my feelings. Thank you KJ for this absolutely wonderful story.
July 27, 2022
Wonderful read. Full of feelings.
Happiness and grief
4.5 rounded to 5
Happiness and grief
4.5 rounded to 5
June 2, 2022
A love story which reminded me of Love Story, the movie from 1970. We fall in love with Bron and Kate as their hearts melt and merge, falling in love one sketch and one origami crane at a time. We wish them happiness forever knowing how Kate's mother and ex husband continue to harass and belittle her. We sense Bron's fragility and uncertainty, desperate to not screw up this precious love she shares with Kate. Bron's eclectic and entertaining family add comic relief to soften the foreshadowed darkness to come. We hope, we hope that Bron and Kate can weather the bumps in their marriage and their efforts to reconcile and reconnect. And we are crushed when all their efforts are in vain.
A beautiful, gut wrenching love story. Not for the faint of heart.
A beautiful, gut wrenching love story. Not for the faint of heart.
March 21, 2022
Beautiful. Devastating. Unforgettable.
I don't have words for how Kate and Bron's story affected me. I don't do tears - it's a guy thing, conditioning not pride - and I was ugly crying through the last hour of the book.
This is not a romance, but it is unabashedly romantic, and it is sweet and funny and uplifting and wonderful and I feel fortunate to have heard about it and experienced it.
There is an oft-shared Internet meme that says "this book brutally ripped out my heart and tore it to shreds then stomped it into the ground as I drowned in a sea of my tears and basked in eternal sorrow. Here read it.", a sentiment which fits this book perfectly.
I suggest you read it.
I don't have words for how Kate and Bron's story affected me. I don't do tears - it's a guy thing, conditioning not pride - and I was ugly crying through the last hour of the book.
This is not a romance, but it is unabashedly romantic, and it is sweet and funny and uplifting and wonderful and I feel fortunate to have heard about it and experienced it.
There is an oft-shared Internet meme that says "this book brutally ripped out my heart and tore it to shreds then stomped it into the ground as I drowned in a sea of my tears and basked in eternal sorrow. Here read it.", a sentiment which fits this book perfectly.
I suggest you read it.
February 8, 2022
Bron McIntyre is an art teacher who has a favorite bench where she sketches her favorite bridge in the city centre of Melbourne. It’s her happy place where she goes to relax after a long day of teaching children. On this particular day her face settles on a beautiful woman and she begins sketching her almost as if her hands are moving of their own accord. She notices a cyclist heading straight for the woman and leaps to her rescue. She arrives just in time for the cyclist to fly past the woman, causing her smoothie to explode all over her skirt and shoes. Bron offers Kate tissues and they chat on Bron’s bench.
After weeks of meeting and chatting the bench becomes “their” bench. A friendship forms. And although Bron is crushing hard, she knows that Kate’s straight since her divorce from Neil has just been finalized. Maybe not so straight after all, because there’s flirting and then a kiss that changes everything. Kate finally has someone who doesn’t belittle her, but instead, lifts her up and loves her exactly as she is. And Bron, who though she was perfectly content having a great job and a wonderful family, acknowledges that she has found her missing piece.
Bron’s family plays a huge part in the book and they are all wonderful. From her foul mouthed, full of love sister Siobhan, to her wise, therapist sister Janine, to fluid pronoun JJ. They are all a window into Bron and I couldn’t possibly love them more. Kate doesn’t have a supportive family. Her mother thinks Neil was her one shot at happiness and she is a fool to throw that away. She cares more about appearances than Kate’s happiness and Neil is just an asshat, who, I spent way too much time cursing at, but not apologizing, like Bron’s does when she curses.
KJ is one of the writers whose words speak directly to my heart. Whether it’s the sweetness of Sam and Abby in Coming Home, the magic of Cath and Rica in Art of Magic or the mystery of Felicity and Tal in Ignis, KJ’s artistry is unmatched. With The Forever and the Now, she has written a story unlike anything I have read before, and it is her most beautiful book to date.
If you put a book in front of me and told me to tell you who the author is without looking, I could immediately tell you when it’s a KJ book. It’s the way her “voice” comes through so beautifully, It’s in the way she writes self-deprecating humour and the way she uses imagery so vividly that I can picture each scene as if I am living in the world she’s describing.
This book is written in first person from Bron’s perspective as she and Kate fall in love, make mistakes that threaten that love, fight to find their way back to each other and ultimately experience tragedy. KJ has made it known that this isn’t a happily ever after. When I got to the end on this book I was reduced to a quivering mess of tears. Even thinking back to it, my eyes are tearing up. However, I can’t bring myself to regret the experience and I am certain that Kate and Bron would feel the same. Life isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. It is about finding someone who makes you laugh, who holds you when you need to be held and who looks into your eyes and sees your soul. This is a love story that I know years from now I will still be reaching for, wishing I could experience it for the first time all over again.
ARC received from the author for an honest review.
https://sapphicbookreview.com/review/...
After weeks of meeting and chatting the bench becomes “their” bench. A friendship forms. And although Bron is crushing hard, she knows that Kate’s straight since her divorce from Neil has just been finalized. Maybe not so straight after all, because there’s flirting and then a kiss that changes everything. Kate finally has someone who doesn’t belittle her, but instead, lifts her up and loves her exactly as she is. And Bron, who though she was perfectly content having a great job and a wonderful family, acknowledges that she has found her missing piece.
Bron’s family plays a huge part in the book and they are all wonderful. From her foul mouthed, full of love sister Siobhan, to her wise, therapist sister Janine, to fluid pronoun JJ. They are all a window into Bron and I couldn’t possibly love them more. Kate doesn’t have a supportive family. Her mother thinks Neil was her one shot at happiness and she is a fool to throw that away. She cares more about appearances than Kate’s happiness and Neil is just an asshat, who, I spent way too much time cursing at, but not apologizing, like Bron’s does when she curses.
KJ is one of the writers whose words speak directly to my heart. Whether it’s the sweetness of Sam and Abby in Coming Home, the magic of Cath and Rica in Art of Magic or the mystery of Felicity and Tal in Ignis, KJ’s artistry is unmatched. With The Forever and the Now, she has written a story unlike anything I have read before, and it is her most beautiful book to date.
If you put a book in front of me and told me to tell you who the author is without looking, I could immediately tell you when it’s a KJ book. It’s the way her “voice” comes through so beautifully, It’s in the way she writes self-deprecating humour and the way she uses imagery so vividly that I can picture each scene as if I am living in the world she’s describing.
This book is written in first person from Bron’s perspective as she and Kate fall in love, make mistakes that threaten that love, fight to find their way back to each other and ultimately experience tragedy. KJ has made it known that this isn’t a happily ever after. When I got to the end on this book I was reduced to a quivering mess of tears. Even thinking back to it, my eyes are tearing up. However, I can’t bring myself to regret the experience and I am certain that Kate and Bron would feel the same. Life isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. It is about finding someone who makes you laugh, who holds you when you need to be held and who looks into your eyes and sees your soul. This is a love story that I know years from now I will still be reaching for, wishing I could experience it for the first time all over again.
ARC received from the author for an honest review.
https://sapphicbookreview.com/review/...
March 6, 2022
"The Forever and The Now" is a wonderful story about life, love and loss. It's beautiful, but also heartbreaking.
I liked both Bron and Kate a lot. I enjoyed reading about their journey, how they met, fell in love and went through the ups and downs of life together.
The writing was amazing. The book is written from Bron's perspective and I liked to be in her headspace and loved her sense of humor very much.
This is a book I won't forget so soon. It reminded me how important it is to be grateful and not to take anything or anyone for granted. Highly recommended.
I liked both Bron and Kate a lot. I enjoyed reading about their journey, how they met, fell in love and went through the ups and downs of life together.
The writing was amazing. The book is written from Bron's perspective and I liked to be in her headspace and loved her sense of humor very much.
This is a book I won't forget so soon. It reminded me how important it is to be grateful and not to take anything or anyone for granted. Highly recommended.
March 16, 2022
Achingly beautiful, both in the storyline and the writing. Highly recommend.
Read
February 3, 2022KJ writes because her imagination takes the wheel. And her imagination takes the reader on a long journey here which is heart-warming but ultimately devastating. The Forever and the Now is told in the first person from the point of view of forty-two-year-old Bron, an art teacher/specialist, and is the story of her falling in love with forty-eight-year-old Kate, freshly divorced from a distinctly unpleasant man whom every reader will want to punch repeatedly in his privileged, entitled, middle-class, white face.
There’s plenty to love about this book. The self-deprecating humour and adorable awkwardness of Bron; the slow and steady path to a now and forever love; and funny but tender sex, to name a few. KJ explores family relationships, coming out struggles, homophobia, genders and pronouns, and even sexual assault with a deft touch that is light and humorous, and/or delicate and sensitive where it needs to be. That KJ has managed to address so many heavy and hot button topics in one book is testament to the strength of her authorial voice, her bravery, and her integrity as a writer who tells the story they simply must get out of their brain.
As KJ has warned, this isn’t a romance, it’s a love story (think Pretty Woman = romance, whilst Romeo & Juliet = a love story). And at the end, I’m not ashamed to say that I shed tears for this imaginary couple, partly because Kate’s symptoms are very similar to my own wife’s health issues at the moment, but also because of the very real and emotional journey KJ’s characters had taken me on. I was cheering for them until the final chapter, when KJ ripped the rug from beneath my hope and sent it spiralling down into the depths of fictional grief.
This is an excellent story of forever love, and one that should make you treasure every moment you’re alive and every second of your time with your forever love.
My two favourite lines because I couldn’t narrow it down to one:
"It became a habit to walk to the cafe afterwards and share appetisers and parts of our lives and, in my case, little invisible pieces of my heart."
"There’ll be a seminar, an assessment, followed by a lesson on the colours of noisy silence."
There’s plenty to love about this book. The self-deprecating humour and adorable awkwardness of Bron; the slow and steady path to a now and forever love; and funny but tender sex, to name a few. KJ explores family relationships, coming out struggles, homophobia, genders and pronouns, and even sexual assault with a deft touch that is light and humorous, and/or delicate and sensitive where it needs to be. That KJ has managed to address so many heavy and hot button topics in one book is testament to the strength of her authorial voice, her bravery, and her integrity as a writer who tells the story they simply must get out of their brain.
As KJ has warned, this isn’t a romance, it’s a love story (think Pretty Woman = romance, whilst Romeo & Juliet = a love story). And at the end, I’m not ashamed to say that I shed tears for this imaginary couple, partly because Kate’s symptoms are very similar to my own wife’s health issues at the moment, but also because of the very real and emotional journey KJ’s characters had taken me on. I was cheering for them until the final chapter, when KJ ripped the rug from beneath my hope and sent it spiralling down into the depths of fictional grief.
This is an excellent story of forever love, and one that should make you treasure every moment you’re alive and every second of your time with your forever love.
My two favourite lines because I couldn’t narrow it down to one:
"It became a habit to walk to the cafe afterwards and share appetisers and parts of our lives and, in my case, little invisible pieces of my heart."
"There’ll be a seminar, an assessment, followed by a lesson on the colours of noisy silence."
March 5, 2022
Just finished it... Fuckity fuck !!!
March 2, 2022
Within the first few pages of this book KJ makes no bones about the fact that The Forever and The Now is not a romance, and strictly speaking it isn't - there's no happily ever after for the protagonists - BUT, it is a love story in it's truest form, and by god what a love story KJ has given us.
The Forever and The Now is a story of healing and hope, and yes forever love, which could induce feeling in even the blackest of hearts and darkest of minds, such is its emotive power .
We’re taken along the journey of Bron (42, teacher/artist) and Kate (48, accountant) as they face first lust, then tentative love, deep love, heartbreak followed by healing and tragedy, and ultimately a different kind of forever love. In a subtle yet beautiful way i realised with each chapter i read, that Bron and Kate’s journey is actually depicted in the chapter titles. Which when viewed on the contents page in their entirety are visually touching in a rather unusual way.
I will admit that in the first view chapters i struggled to truly get on board with Bron’s character and the first person point of view, but as the plot progressed it became clear that this sort of story absolutely needed a character like Bron and it had to be told from her perspective. By the end, Bron’s light hearted commentary and self-deprecating humour were the balm to the heart-wrenchingly beautiful tragedy unfolding before my very eyes.
And whilst there is darkness and sadness lurking in the wings of Bron and Kate’s journey, there are many moments of joy and reasons to smile (or grin) – like the depiction of Fruitloop the dog, spinning around on the washing line. And then there’s Bron’s classic put down of Neil (Kate’s ex-husband) when he confronts them both at Veris’s New Years Eve party – which by the way elicited one of my favourite lines in the book.
Alongside the main plot, KJ also gives her readers so many other topics to sink their teeth into – from coming out obstacles to pronoun use and gender identities. I take my hat off to authors that continue to tackle and bring into the light often difficult or complex issues and KJ is no exception. I particularly welcomed the discussion between Kate and Bron regarding ‘coming out’ throughout one’s life and the exploration of pronouns and gender through the character of JJ. Whilst these issues can often be heavy, KJ’s writing ensures they are addressed with the consideration and sensitivity that they deserve, in a manner that is in keeping with the flow of the story.
But ultimately at the core of The Forever and the Now is a profound reminder to cherish your own love story, your own person. To remember that the tiny moments matter, those seemingly inconsequential moments in ‘the now’ lead to the ever lasting love in ‘the forever’ and you can’t have one without the other. And even though love is all encompassing it doesn’t negate the need to hold yourself and your relationships to the light, to nurture them, and to not take anything for granted in the name of love; complacency is the harbinger of heartache.
There’s a part of this book – the paper cranes – which really pulled at my heart strings, right up to the last paragraph. They are a beautiful, meaningful presence throughout the whole story and whilst the last crane will always be tinged with sorrow, it also represents everything that came before it. It’s a touching symbolism of Kate and Bron’s everlasting love.
To me, The Forever and The Now is a work of art for which no review will ever do it justice. This is a book that is emotive, it’s a story that has been crafted to be deeply felt and sometimes there are feelings to which no words can suffice. The Forever and The Now touches every part of your being and tenderly whispers a reminder to cherish your forever love at every opportunity.
The Forever and The Now is a story of healing and hope, and yes forever love, which could induce feeling in even the blackest of hearts and darkest of minds, such is its emotive power .
We’re taken along the journey of Bron (42, teacher/artist) and Kate (48, accountant) as they face first lust, then tentative love, deep love, heartbreak followed by healing and tragedy, and ultimately a different kind of forever love. In a subtle yet beautiful way i realised with each chapter i read, that Bron and Kate’s journey is actually depicted in the chapter titles. Which when viewed on the contents page in their entirety are visually touching in a rather unusual way.
I will admit that in the first view chapters i struggled to truly get on board with Bron’s character and the first person point of view, but as the plot progressed it became clear that this sort of story absolutely needed a character like Bron and it had to be told from her perspective. By the end, Bron’s light hearted commentary and self-deprecating humour were the balm to the heart-wrenchingly beautiful tragedy unfolding before my very eyes.
And whilst there is darkness and sadness lurking in the wings of Bron and Kate’s journey, there are many moments of joy and reasons to smile (or grin) – like the depiction of Fruitloop the dog, spinning around on the washing line. And then there’s Bron’s classic put down of Neil (Kate’s ex-husband) when he confronts them both at Veris’s New Years Eve party – which by the way elicited one of my favourite lines in the book.
Alongside the main plot, KJ also gives her readers so many other topics to sink their teeth into – from coming out obstacles to pronoun use and gender identities. I take my hat off to authors that continue to tackle and bring into the light often difficult or complex issues and KJ is no exception. I particularly welcomed the discussion between Kate and Bron regarding ‘coming out’ throughout one’s life and the exploration of pronouns and gender through the character of JJ. Whilst these issues can often be heavy, KJ’s writing ensures they are addressed with the consideration and sensitivity that they deserve, in a manner that is in keeping with the flow of the story.
But ultimately at the core of The Forever and the Now is a profound reminder to cherish your own love story, your own person. To remember that the tiny moments matter, those seemingly inconsequential moments in ‘the now’ lead to the ever lasting love in ‘the forever’ and you can’t have one without the other. And even though love is all encompassing it doesn’t negate the need to hold yourself and your relationships to the light, to nurture them, and to not take anything for granted in the name of love; complacency is the harbinger of heartache.
There’s a part of this book – the paper cranes – which really pulled at my heart strings, right up to the last paragraph. They are a beautiful, meaningful presence throughout the whole story and whilst the last crane will always be tinged with sorrow, it also represents everything that came before it. It’s a touching symbolism of Kate and Bron’s everlasting love.
To me, The Forever and The Now is a work of art for which no review will ever do it justice. This is a book that is emotive, it’s a story that has been crafted to be deeply felt and sometimes there are feelings to which no words can suffice. The Forever and The Now touches every part of your being and tenderly whispers a reminder to cherish your forever love at every opportunity.
February 23, 2022
Bron meets Kate at a local park when Kate accidentally spills an orange smoothie all over herself, frightened by a passing cyclist. They find themselves roaming the park in hopes of running into each other following that first meeting, slowly falling into each other’s world.
I loved this, as I have every book written by KJ. This group of characters is so real they jump right off the page. They are complex and their relationship, though heartwarming, is equally complex. Their road to finding each other is slow and there are a few twists but they know all along they have something special. Be prepared for some tears over this one, I am not usually one for tears but I found myself crying a couple times. KJ really knows how to pull the heartstrings.
I loved this, as I have every book written by KJ. This group of characters is so real they jump right off the page. They are complex and their relationship, though heartwarming, is equally complex. Their road to finding each other is slow and there are a few twists but they know all along they have something special. Be prepared for some tears over this one, I am not usually one for tears but I found myself crying a couple times. KJ really knows how to pull the heartstrings.
September 29, 2022
i don’t know why i thought it’d be a good idea to finish the book this morning. completely ruined my day. absolutely devastated and i can’t stop thinking about it
January 7, 2024
This will be a short review because I am simply drained after experiencing so many emotions. This book was more beautiful than I ever imagined. I bawled at the beauty, the love and the sadness. KJ is simply a brilliant writer who took me on a beautiful ride. That’s all I want to say. There are some great reviews on this site that I agree with. Please read them.
March 22, 2022
This book is unbelievable! Such a heart wrenching story of love and the struggles of life.
This was different read for me because it was a first person point of view. At times I almost felt like I was reading someone’s diary. It really worked for this book and I enjoyed it immensely.
I have often wondered what it would look like to tell a story like this. One of how a couple meets, falls in love, and how they fall into the motions of life. How they handle the ebbs and flows of life and all that it brings. I have read several books that have tried to accomplish this feat, but I feel as if they fell short. KJ has nailed it here. She doesn’t shy away from the hard and how brutal life can really be.
It’s been ages since I have cried while reading a book. This one got me. The tears just flowed and I was actually alright with that. KJ has a real work of art here and I am so glad I was able to read it and experience the emotions.
This was different read for me because it was a first person point of view. At times I almost felt like I was reading someone’s diary. It really worked for this book and I enjoyed it immensely.
I have often wondered what it would look like to tell a story like this. One of how a couple meets, falls in love, and how they fall into the motions of life. How they handle the ebbs and flows of life and all that it brings. I have read several books that have tried to accomplish this feat, but I feel as if they fell short. KJ has nailed it here. She doesn’t shy away from the hard and how brutal life can really be.
It’s been ages since I have cried while reading a book. This one got me. The tears just flowed and I was actually alright with that. KJ has a real work of art here and I am so glad I was able to read it and experience the emotions.
February 21, 2022
Too much angst for me in this book personally. Should have skipped it. The beginning was great thou.
February 15, 2022
The Forever and The Now is not a romance. For me, it is the ultimate love story. It gave me every feel you can imagine from laughing out loud, snorting, wanting to throw my device AT the arrogant homophobia of a few side characters, to making me love to cry. I even hit level 10 on the NINSAABO scale (Neen-I'm-Not-Sobbing-At-All-Bugger-Off). A few times in fact.
Bron and Kate are so different and so complimentary to each other. They bring out the best in each other in the most wonderful of ways. From the drawings Bron gives to Kate and the origami cranes Kate gives to Bron, to the different world views and life perspectives they bring to each other.
Everything about this wonderful book is raw and realistic, wonderful and heartbreaking. The trials and tribulations of a relationship, the highs and the lows.
And then we get the wonderful character developments of Bron and Kate. As the book is from Bron's point of view we see a bit more of her development but we also discover Kate's as well. And both are wonderful and realistic.
There are so many parts I loved about this book but my favourite scene of all time is the intervention with Bron and her sisters and mother. There is so much realistic and raw passion in this scene. It got the tears flowing and the heart pumping. It made me feel like I could have been in my sister's kitchen being on either end of the situation. And damn did that hit home.
With KJ's trademark flowing sentences, wonderful descriptions, and perfect balance of humour and heartbreak, The Forever and the Now is a book that will stay with me, and I'm so glad to have been able to read it. Just make sure you have tissues nearby when you dive in to this wonderful love story.
Bron and Kate are so different and so complimentary to each other. They bring out the best in each other in the most wonderful of ways. From the drawings Bron gives to Kate and the origami cranes Kate gives to Bron, to the different world views and life perspectives they bring to each other.
Everything about this wonderful book is raw and realistic, wonderful and heartbreaking. The trials and tribulations of a relationship, the highs and the lows.
And then we get the wonderful character developments of Bron and Kate. As the book is from Bron's point of view we see a bit more of her development but we also discover Kate's as well. And both are wonderful and realistic.
There are so many parts I loved about this book but my favourite scene of all time is the intervention with Bron and her sisters and mother. There is so much realistic and raw passion in this scene. It got the tears flowing and the heart pumping. It made me feel like I could have been in my sister's kitchen being on either end of the situation. And damn did that hit home.
With KJ's trademark flowing sentences, wonderful descriptions, and perfect balance of humour and heartbreak, The Forever and the Now is a book that will stay with me, and I'm so glad to have been able to read it. Just make sure you have tissues nearby when you dive in to this wonderful love story.
April 11, 2022
This story is beautifully written and full of emotions. A truly lovely love story. It is an absolute must-read!
August 20, 2025
I enjoy KJs books, and the way she draws her characters. There was humor and drama. Anyone who has every spilled a smoothie will be able to relate. It is the epitome of a bad day, and a great way for two characters to meet.
February 22, 2022
I went to bed knowing that I have 15% of The Forever and the Now by K.J. left and I knew I shouldn't have done it. I wanted closure from it.
And now? I have so many thoughts that I'll be awake, lying down and thinking.
That second chance, a wish upon a star.
I haven't poured down so many tears in a long time while reading a book.
So delicate and yet powerful. So beautiful and yet ugly. So dreamy and yet so real. It's love and life and their absence at the same time.
It's spaces, people and hope. It's a "see you again and again".
Too many thoughts, it’s a book that hits you hard. It’s a lot of metaphors. Don’t take what you have for granted, keep on working to keep love alive. It’s that bridge where Bron and Kate first met, that symbolizes communication, chances, paths in life: crossing that bridge. It’s growing up and standing up for yourself and coming to terms with your reality, resolving all the baggage you’ve carried all your life. It’s a lot of introspection to see your faults, accepting them and moving forward to be a better version of yourself.
I can’t shake the memory of the weeping willow and the cranes, so beautiful. And I loved the McIntyre family.
This is life. It gives and takes.
I have to many thoughts. Too many. To many personal thoughts and that’s why this book made me cry so much.
Ps. I was wondering about the names, Bron and Agostino. I know their meaning… where they chosen on purpose? And the numerology… got me thinking.
And now? I have so many thoughts that I'll be awake, lying down and thinking.
That second chance, a wish upon a star.
I haven't poured down so many tears in a long time while reading a book.
So delicate and yet powerful. So beautiful and yet ugly. So dreamy and yet so real. It's love and life and their absence at the same time.
It's spaces, people and hope. It's a "see you again and again".
Too many thoughts, it’s a book that hits you hard. It’s a lot of metaphors. Don’t take what you have for granted, keep on working to keep love alive. It’s that bridge where Bron and Kate first met, that symbolizes communication, chances, paths in life: crossing that bridge. It’s growing up and standing up for yourself and coming to terms with your reality, resolving all the baggage you’ve carried all your life. It’s a lot of introspection to see your faults, accepting them and moving forward to be a better version of yourself.
I can’t shake the memory of the weeping willow and the cranes, so beautiful. And I loved the McIntyre family.
This is life. It gives and takes.
I have to many thoughts. Too many. To many personal thoughts and that’s why this book made me cry so much.
Ps. I was wondering about the names, Bron and Agostino. I know their meaning… where they chosen on purpose? And the numerology… got me thinking.
August 7, 2022
Poignant and devastatingly beautiful. KJ brings to life Kate and Bron’s story of slow discovery, love, learning, and grief. This book is a captivating experience. The Forever and the Now is a slow burn coming out love story.
Teflon Bron’s life has been pretty easy. She has a job doing what she loves, and a wonderfully supportive family. While sitting on her bench sketching her bridge, she finds her forever covered in orange smoothie.
Kate is a recently divorced accountant who flees conflict at the speed of light. Her mom sucks, and keeps trying to get her back with her asshole ex husband Neil—what and asshole!
The story is entirely from Bron’s perspective and it feels autobiographical, like she is recalling moments from the past and bringing us to the now. It’s beautifully done. Over time memories fade into periods of time marked by specific moments; the chapter titles capture this perfectly. We get around 5 years in 264 pages. It moves quickly to pull you in and by the end I felt like I had been with them the entire time. The book is full of stunning imagery and a host of playful nicknames and paper cranes. Don’t miss this one, just bring the tissues.
“I had an irrational fear that Kate would disappear and I’d be lost.”
“You’re not going to touch her again, Neil, because I will fucking cut off your arm and use it as a new pole for the rainbow flag outside city hall.”
Spoiler/Content Warning
In her newsletter KJ released a playlist for the book. I created a Spotify playlist here.
Adore by Amy Shark - Chapters 1-3
I Could Fall In Love by Selena - Chapters 4-6
I Love You More by Avery Anna - Chapters 7-9
All of Me by Jasmine Thompson - Chapter 10
Lover by Taylor Swift - Chapter 11
Water Under The Bridge by Adele - Chapters 12-13
Photograph by Ed Sheeran - Chapter 14
Better Together by Jack Johnson - Chapter 16
Rise Up by Andra Day - Chapter 18
I Will Carry You by Ellie Holcomb - Chapter 19
May It Be by Enya - Chapter 20
Teflon Bron’s life has been pretty easy. She has a job doing what she loves, and a wonderfully supportive family. While sitting on her bench sketching her bridge, she finds her forever covered in orange smoothie.
Kate is a recently divorced accountant who flees conflict at the speed of light. Her mom sucks, and keeps trying to get her back with her asshole ex husband Neil—what and asshole!
The story is entirely from Bron’s perspective and it feels autobiographical, like she is recalling moments from the past and bringing us to the now. It’s beautifully done. Over time memories fade into periods of time marked by specific moments; the chapter titles capture this perfectly. We get around 5 years in 264 pages. It moves quickly to pull you in and by the end I felt like I had been with them the entire time. The book is full of stunning imagery and a host of playful nicknames and paper cranes. Don’t miss this one, just bring the tissues.
“I had an irrational fear that Kate would disappear and I’d be lost.”
“You’re not going to touch her again, Neil, because I will fucking cut off your arm and use it as a new pole for the rainbow flag outside city hall.”
Spoiler/Content Warning
In her newsletter KJ released a playlist for the book. I created a Spotify playlist here.
Adore by Amy Shark - Chapters 1-3
I Could Fall In Love by Selena - Chapters 4-6
I Love You More by Avery Anna - Chapters 7-9
All of Me by Jasmine Thompson - Chapter 10
Lover by Taylor Swift - Chapter 11
Water Under The Bridge by Adele - Chapters 12-13
Photograph by Ed Sheeran - Chapter 14
Better Together by Jack Johnson - Chapter 16
Rise Up by Andra Day - Chapter 18
I Will Carry You by Ellie Holcomb - Chapter 19
May It Be by Enya - Chapter 20
May 12, 2022
Writing that this book was delightful feels so wrong because of the ending that is just so emotional. BUT it is a delightful book. KJ strikes an amazing balance between humour and angst.
This story is told from Bron’s first person POV. It tells the story of how she meets Kate, develop a friendship, find love and try to make the most out of life. Bron’s family plays a big part in this story and they all provide a different, and fun, perspective on the characters but also on the story.
When the first health issues appeared on the page I had a feeling where it would go, still it wrecked me a little. Mostly because these characters are just so lovely and I was rooting for them.
Anyway, it’s an emotional and fun story, with maybe a little too much angst for some. I think without the delightful (there’s that word again) humour of the characters, mostly Bron, it would have been to angsts for me as well. The author balanced humour and angst into an emotional story about love and hope.
Also, this isn’t a HEA romance, but it is a love story.
This story is told from Bron’s first person POV. It tells the story of how she meets Kate, develop a friendship, find love and try to make the most out of life. Bron’s family plays a big part in this story and they all provide a different, and fun, perspective on the characters but also on the story.
When the first health issues appeared on the page I had a feeling where it would go, still it wrecked me a little. Mostly because these characters are just so lovely and I was rooting for them.
Anyway, it’s an emotional and fun story, with maybe a little too much angst for some. I think without the delightful (there’s that word again) humour of the characters, mostly Bron, it would have been to angsts for me as well. The author balanced humour and angst into an emotional story about love and hope.
Also, this isn’t a HEA romance, but it is a love story.
April 13, 2022
I've read many books that have touched my heart, but not as much as this one. I've read many books that have brought me close to tears, and this book actually opened the flood gates. This story consumed me from beginning to end. To have the forever and the now love that Kate and Bron had is a unique and wonderful thing. Kudos, K.J. for capturing and expressing such emotion with these two MCs. I can honestly say that this story will stick with me, for now and maybe forever. Thank you for sharing this story.
February 20, 2022
Magnificent!
I have read so much hype on this book and oh.my.god. It was better! If you've read a book by KJ before, you know she has this way of writing that sucks you in the folds of the characters, their humor, flaws, quirks, heart, etc...I laughed, I cried, and fell in love. I can't say anything else besides you need to read this book!
I have read so much hype on this book and oh.my.god. It was better! If you've read a book by KJ before, you know she has this way of writing that sucks you in the folds of the characters, their humor, flaws, quirks, heart, etc...I laughed, I cried, and fell in love. I can't say anything else besides you need to read this book!
February 17, 2022
All the stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the tears
Wow. There is a lot to process after reading this. I think KJ has given the disclaimer that this isn't meant to be a romance. But what it is a beautiful, realistic, heartbreaking&warming, love story. And if you've read KJ before you know that she has a unique way with words and is very funny. I will admit that I cried a lot reading this but it also made me smile and chuckle a lot too.
The MCs, Bron and Kate meet, they love, and they struggle (plus more but I don't want to spoil it), and these issues they have hit really close to home for me. I think anyone who has been in a long term relationship will find this true.
The character growth and process of falling in love was paced so well and as I mentioned, KJ's great writer's voice and sense of humor really shine. This really is her best work.
I'd suggest having a good friend that will send you puppy pics when you finish, along with tissues. This is a beautiful story and one that I believe needed to be told.❤️
Wow. There is a lot to process after reading this. I think KJ has given the disclaimer that this isn't meant to be a romance. But what it is a beautiful, realistic, heartbreaking&warming, love story. And if you've read KJ before you know that she has a unique way with words and is very funny. I will admit that I cried a lot reading this but it also made me smile and chuckle a lot too.
The MCs, Bron and Kate meet, they love, and they struggle (plus more but I don't want to spoil it), and these issues they have hit really close to home for me. I think anyone who has been in a long term relationship will find this true.
The character growth and process of falling in love was paced so well and as I mentioned, KJ's great writer's voice and sense of humor really shine. This really is her best work.
I'd suggest having a good friend that will send you puppy pics when you finish, along with tissues. This is a beautiful story and one that I believe needed to be told.❤️
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